Page 26 of The Anaconda Downstairs

My.

God.

Was this the next lesson? Was I supposed to be paying attention to his body language?

I took the fluffy ball of fur, whose fur matched my hair exactly, trying to ignore the hot spark that spread through me when our fingers brushed.

It was almost like lightning had struck the two of us.

KINGMANS PLAY TO WIN

EVERETT

My day started with a fucking epiphany. It had hit me like a touchdown pass, and I knew how to help Pen.

She really got herself all twisted up the second she considered someone a potential romantic interest. I’d never seen quite such verbal diarrhea or clumsiness out of her at any other time.

She was never awkward around me or my brothers though. Because she didn’t see us as anything other than a newfound family. But we weren’t family. We were a whole load of red-blooded men, and even if it made me want to smack them all upside the heads, I’d bet half of my brothers had a crush on Penelope.

That was going to be the key to getting her out of her head and relaxed. Once she realized she was already smart and sassy and fun to hang out with when she was just being herself, even around men who thought she was hot, she’d get any date she wanted.

And then I’d be able to stop thinking about her and her love life every god damn second of my day.

The idea of pretending to pursue Pen energized me, and I’d just had one of my best games of the season. I’d smashed anyonecoming Hayes’s way when he was running with the ball, and even leaped over a whole-ass defensive line and right into the endzone for a touchdown.

Now, sitting here at Cool Beans, I was ready to put my plan into action. Finding a bright orange rascally kitten to present to her and picking her as my teammate for the games was the perfect opener. If that didn’t say “I’ve been fantasizing about what your hair would look like wrapped around my fist as I fuck you from behind”, nothing did.

Just, you know, as an example.

Tonight was all about teaching her how to flirt and date by example.Of course, I had to be careful.

I sure as hell didn’t want Declan finding out. My brother’s protective streak when it came to Penelope was no joke. It was a risky move, but I was banking on my family being too wrapped up in the game to notice anything unusual.

I settled into my seat next to Penelope, cataloguing every inch of where her skin touched mine. The tiny orange kitten purred contentedly in her lap. It was perfect.

“So, kitten.” I leaned in close enough that my mouth brushed against her ear. “Ready to dominate this game night?”

Penelope looked up at me, her eyes flashing, and she tipped her head, studying me. Hopefully that meant she was already catching on. “I’m sure the kitten is excellent at board games. Me, on the other hand, I’m not much of a player.”

I grinned, seizing the opportunity. “Well, lucky for you, I’m an excellent teacher. Both on and off the field.”

I winked, noting with satisfaction how she caught her breath when I did. Let the games begin.

Every time Penelope laughed at one of my jokes or brushed against me as she reached for the dice, I felt that familiar spark. It was becoming increasingly difficult to remind myself that this was just practice, just a lesson.

“Your turn, Pen,” I said, handing her the dice. Our fingers touched, and I let the contact linger just a moment longer than necessary. “It’s all in the wrist.”

Penelope raised an eyebrow at me, a playful smirk on her face. “Is that dice throwing advice or instructions from the love guru?”

A zing of electricity zipped through me. Was she flirting back? I hadn’t expected that so quickly, but I certainly wasn’t complaining. This was working better than I’d anticipated.

I glanced around quickly, making sure no one was paying attention to us. Luckily, everyone seemed absorbed in their own heated debates about game strategy and stats.

“Either,” I replied, matching her tone. “I’d be happy to give you a private lesson on proper wrist technique later.”

As the games continued, filled with laughter, playful banter, kitten shenanigans, and increasingly competitive moves, I found myself paying less attention to the games and more to Penelope. The way her eyes lit up when she made a good play, the adorable scrunch of her nose when she was concentrating, the musical sound of her laughter, and the way she cuddled that tiny orange cat.

Phew. I grabbed the collar of my shirt. Why was it so hot in the coffee shop? No one else was sweating. Did I have a fever? Ain’t nobody got time to be sick during the season. But damn, it was like there was fire in my blood. No, something that burned hotter than a mere flame. It was like electricity. Lightning.

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